8. Chapter Eight
Chapter eight
S ome strange sense that something was off made Melody take the long way around to work that evening. It took twice as long, but took her right past Tanya’s place again. Sure enough, she spotted a very familiar beat-up orange Chevy truck in the drive, shotgun in the back window rack with a pot leaf bumper sticker. Like that wasn’t an advertisement for Brian’s business.
It didn’t surprise her that a cancer patient wanted to buy some weed to help with the side effects from her treatment, though marijuana was still illegal in Wyoming. You could buy edibles, just not smoke a joint.
Whatever. None of her business.
She drove on, thinking about how she and Fox had parted after the visit with Tanya. He’d been quiet in the car. He’d felt a million miles away, not just a couple feet away. When he dropped her at her car, he thanked her for making Tanya lunch and doing all the dishes in the sink while Fox and Tanya chatted in the other room with a Big Bang Theory rerun playing in the background.
Tanya complained that she’d had to add an extra blanket to her bed because the heater in the house didn’t work as well as it used to. Fox told her he’d get her a new oven and have someone come out to check the furnace. His business must be doing really well if he could afford to fix up Tanya’s place without batting an eye.
He was trying to be a good son.
Tanya kept things cordial, but always seemed to work in a complaint about something that would cost Fox money.
She’d tried to bring it up with him in the car, but Fox simply put his hand on her knee, squeezed, and said, “I know what I’m doing. Don’t worry about it.”
But she did worry. About him. What this was costing him, both financially and emotionally. And what his mom was up to.
She pulled into the Dark Horse Dive Bar parking lot and left her old Bronco in her spot. The one she claimed every day anyway.
She used her keys to enter the big building and found Aria behind the bar and Lyric working in the kitchen.
“So, how did your first date with Fox go?” Aria’s excitement made her grin even bigger.
The time they’d shared at the diner was… “Amazing. We caught up on the past, talked about moving forward.”
Lyric walked out of the kitchen. “So it’s serious? Up until now, you weren’t sure if he was just stringing you along.”
“Keeping things focused on now during our online chats was his way of getting to know me again, so I could get to know the grownup him, too. He apologized for not telling me it was him.”
“But you got his point, didn’t you?” Lyric asked, concern still in her gaze.
“Yes. I liked the online guy enough that I wanted to meet him in person and see if the connection we shared was real and could be what I’m looking for.”
“And is it?” Aria asked.
“Now that I know it’s him…it’s a million times better. The way he looks at me…I can’t describe it. It’s like I feel it everywhere, all the way deep inside me.” She turned to Lyric. “I thought the way Mason looked at you was special.”
“It is,” Lyric confirmed. “Everything he feels about me is in his eyes.”
“I’ve dated lots of other guys.” No need to sugarcoat it. She liked men. She liked a good time. She didn’t apologize for trying to find someone who saw all of her, not just the outside, but everything inside she had to give. “Fox is different. Maybe because we have a history. We were such good friends. He never treated me differently because I was a girl. If he wanted to play baseball, we played baseball. If I wanted to stay in the classroom and draw, we did that.” She thought about their talk today. “He wants me to come and teach a class at the New Adult Education Center in town. He thinks people could learn something from me about running my own business here at the bar and the Etsy shop I run.”
“You’d be brilliant at that,” Aria encouraged.
Lyric nodded her agreement. “Absolutely.” Her head tilted. “You don’t talk much about your business. At least not to us.”
“It’s mine.” She didn’t know what else to say. “We have this.” She waved her hand to encompass the bar. She managed the waitstaff. Lyric the kitchen. Jax managed the bartenders. And Aria oversaw the bar as a whole, including ordering supplies and payroll. “I love it here, but I also needed something more creative.”
“You don’t really get to express that here. Except in the marketing and social media stuff you do with me.” Lyric’s insight eased Melody. She didn’t want them to think she didn’t love working at the bar. She did. And sometimes it just felt like too much work and no fun.
“Of course you’d need an outlet for that side of you. That’s why Lyric sings and writes her amazing songs.” Aria didn’t have a second job or hobby. She’d had a boyfriend who she thought she was going to marry and start a family with until he cheated on her. Aria wanted a family. She wanted to be a mother. She wanted stability and someone she could trust.
Nick, Lyric’s brother-in-law, sure seemed interested, but work kept him away too much.
“How are things with Nick?”
Aria leaned against her forearms on the bar. “Stalled out. We’re both too busy to make the long-distance thing work.”
“So it’s over?” Lyric asked, concerned.
“No.” Pain and confusion darkened Aria’s blue eyes. “At least I don’t think so. We still talk and text, but it’s sporadic. It’s not that I don’t like him, I just want more than a day here and there when our schedules finally line up.” Aria held Melody’s gaze because that’s how she’d felt about her relationship with Fox until he finally met her IRL. In real life was way better than online messaging. Mostly because there was kissing. But also, when they talked and she could look him in the eye and see the emotion there, she didn’t second-guess whether it was real. She saw it plain on his face and heard it in every word.
What she had with Fox was special.
This time, nothing would tear them apart.
She and her sisters got back to work. Hours later, the bar was packed, the music was loud, the drinks were flowing, and she spotted Fox and Dean headed right for her. Luckily, she had an empty tray in her hand or she’d have spilled a lot of drinks when Fox wrapped his arms around her waist, hauled her close, and kissed her like he’d never get to do it again.
The passion flared and she lost herself in the press of his lips, the sweep of his tongue gliding over hers, and the heat that swept through her, making her press closer to all those lean, hard muscles. His rain-on-the-wind-with-a-hint-of-lime scent wrapped around her.
He squeezed her tight, then slowly ended the kiss and looked down at her. “Missed you.”
“I’m not sure you convinced me yet. Kiss me again.”
He flashed a grin, then swooped in for another kiss.
Several whistles sounded and one, “Get a room.”
She didn’t care about their audience.
He wasn’t putting on a show. He was as lost to the magic happening between them as she was.
“I need a beer,” Dean announced. “And a woman.” She felt the brush of his hand on her shoulder as he walked by. “Hi, Melody. Good to see you, Melody. Nice job keeping my boy happy.” The last words were nearly swallowed by the noise of the music and crowd.
She couldn’t answer because she was too focused on the man blowing her mind and making her panties wet with just a kiss. It took some effort and came with a lot of regret, but she pulled back, tried to catch her breath, and smiled up at Fox. “I believe you now.”
“Happy to keep on proving it to you.” He glanced around them. “Somewhere private. Where I have you all to myself for many, many hours. Days.”
Her wild heart and a huge case of lust made her blurt out, “I could come to your place when I get off shift.” She hadn’t been thinking about sleeping with him tonight. Soon, yes. But this thing between them was just getting stronger and it felt like she’d been waiting for him forever. More than that. She hadn’t just been waiting for Fox to come back into her life; she’d been waiting for someone who made her feel more than sparks but passion based in friendship and connection and trust.
Fox’s gaze went wide, then heated with desire. “I’d love that, but are you sure? I don’t want to go too fast and fuck this up. It means too much to me to rush when we have as much time as you need.”
She’d said at the diner that they should go slow. But… “I know what I want, Fox. It’s you. It’s us.”
He cupped her face, his fingers brushing her skin as he leaned down, put his forehead to hers, and looked deep into her eyes like no one was watching and they weren’t in a crowd. “I am so fucking lucky.”
You’re going to get lucky later.
She wished she could take the rest of the night off and just leave with him.
Someone bumped into her from behind and she crashed into Fox.
He held her close and glared at the person behind her. “Watch it.”
“Sorry. My bad.”
Melody knew that voice and turned to Brian with a raised brow. He’d been kicked out of the bar so many times, she was surprised to see him back again.
Brian held up his hands in surrender. “I’m just here playing pool with some friends.” His gaze swept down her, then back up. “Damn, Mel, but you get hotter every time I see you.”
While she liked bad boys, this one was nothing but trouble. A mistake waiting to happen for any woman who got involved with him. She’d never been that dumb.
Brian was only out for himself. He didn’t care who got hurt because of him. He’d put the blame on others and sell out his mother if it kept him out of jail.
“You get a little rougher around the edges every time I see you. You’ve been keeping some interesting company lately.”
“You know me, Mel, I have lots of friends I like to visit.”
“Uh-huh. Just make sure you keep your business off my property and out of my bar.”
Brian held his arms out wide. “I’m just here for a good time, like everyone else.” His hands dropped and his gaze shot to Fox, who still had his hands on her waist. “Who’s your new friend?”
She didn’t buy his bullshit. “You know Fox. We went to grade school together.” She glanced up at Fox. “Do you remember Brian from second grade?”
His gaze narrowed, a vague sense of recognition in his eyes. “I think I remember you.”
Brian held out his hand. “It’s been a long time.”
Fox reached around her to shake. “You were a really good baseball player. Pitcher, right?”
Brian seemed stunned for a moment. “Yeah. Then I tore a bunch of stuff in my shoulder and all those big league dreams went out the window.” So did his college scholarship, and then pain killers became an addiction that derailed his life and took him down a dark path until he was selling drugs instead of hitting home runs.
She felt sorry for high school Brian, but not the man standing before her. He’d had a long time to change his ways and make a better life for himself. He used what happened to him as an excuse for why his life was so shitty, instead of working for a better future.
Some people just didn’t know how to cut the anchor of the past and move on.
Yeah, that went for her and Fox, too.
Maybe they were all just doing the best they could in the moment and she needed to ease up on herself and others.
Brian pointed behind him. “Me and some friends are shooting pool. Join us. I’ll buy you a beer and you can tell me what happened after Melody got you taken away from your parents.”
“Subtle,” she snapped at Brian, knowing he was just poking at her because she’d never given him the time of day.
Fox took a step in front of her. “Melody saved my life. She’s not to blame for what happened to me. Anyone who says she is, is wrong.”
Brian did that whole surrender thing, holding up his hands like he was harmless. Hardly . “My bad, man. I didn’t mean any disrespect to her or you. It’s just…that shit was a big deal back in the day. Everyone wondered what happened to you.”
“I lived,” Fox said, so matter-of-fact, but with an end-of-story point to it. He wasn’t about to open up old wounds to satisfy anyone’s curiosity.
Brian tilted his head. “Why didn’t I hear you were back in town? I’d think everyone would be talking about it.”
Fox shrugged. “I like to keep a low profile and focus on work.”
Melody bet he’d anticipated the town gossip and used Dean or others at the center to help get things set up and done for him.
“Come on, man. Hang with us.” Brian grabbed Fox’s shoulder and pushed him toward the back. “Bring us a round, hot stuff. On me.”
Fox glanced back at her with an I’ve-got-this glint in his eyes.
She rolled hers, headed to the bar to get them a pitcher of beer, and met Dean on his way back to catch up with Fox. She stopped right in front of him. “Keep an eye on Fox with Brian back there. The tall blond, who looks like he’s been stoned his whole life.”
Dean raised a brow and his gaze narrowed in on the group at the pool table. “What’s his deal?”
“Using people. Manipulating them. Taking everything he can get from them.” He’d left a trail of unhappy girls in high school as he used them and discarded them for the next conquest. As a high school jock, it hadn’t been hard to find willing girls desperate to be with the most popular boy in school. But with his downfall came an even darker side to Brian. He’d blackmailed some of the very people he sold drugs to and punished others for not being able to pay up.
The golden boy’s crown had turned as black as his heart.
She didn’t know how someone could be so callous about other people’s lives. He kept pushing his poison, and they kept buying. He preyed on the weak and benefited from their pain.
After what he’d been through, she thought he’d be more sympathetic. As far as she could tell, he didn’t seem to care.
Dean’s gaze swung back to her. “On it.” And he walked away with an even more determined stride than usual.
She sidled up to the bar and placed her tray down on the counter. “I need a pitcher for four.” She turned and watched Fox break at the pool table.
Fox looked serious. Competitive. And sank two balls.
Admiration and surprise lit Brian’s gaze as he stared at Fox.
Dean sat on a stool watching the byplay like this was nothing new.
And there was Josh right behind Brian. She’d never understood their unlikely friendship. The jock and the quiet kid in class. After high school, Josh had gone to a nearby junior college for a couple of years. Now, he worked in town at his father’s tire store.
He seemed to know she was looking his way and held her gaze. Something in it always seemed desperate.
They’d dated briefly a couple of years ago. Three dates in, he had showed up at the bar, said he didn’t like her short skirt and low-cut tee, every guy in the bar was staring at her tits and ass, and she should go home and change. Yeah. No. That didn’t fly. They got in an argument. He apologized for being a dick. She gave him a second chance. Two dates later, they ran into one of her exes in a restaurant. When Tom slid his hand across her waist and pulled her close to kiss her on the cheek in greeting because they’d remained friendly, Josh shoved him away and they nearly got into a fight. She ended things right then and there.
She liked a protective guy, not a possessive, controlling one.
Fox knew how to make her feel like she belonged to him without making her feel like she was a possession or trophy.
“Melody, you going to stand there all day staring at that hot piece of ass or are you going to make some money?” Aria groused behind her.
Her gaze shifted to Fox. She could look at him all day and night and never get tired of the view. “I like him more than money.” I like him more than anything.
She took the tray and weaved her way through the tables to the back of the bar.
One of the other waitresses stepped in front of her. “I thought Brian was banned.”
“Keep an eye on him. You catch him dealing in here, you tell John to bounce him hard and fast.” Melody continued on, set the tray on Josh’s table, and set the pitcher and glasses down.
Brian came up behind her, real close, too close for comfort, and dropped a wad of fives and ones on her tray. “Thanks, baby.”
She grabbed the tray and pulled it toward her, elbowing Brian in the gut in the process to get him to back off. “Not your baby.” She glanced up at him. “Behave.”
His gaze narrowed. “I’m not a toddler.”
Before she could snap, Then don’t act like one , Josh grabbed her arm. “It’s been too long, Mel. We should go out.”
She glanced at his hand on her, then met Josh’s gaze. “I’m—”
“Seeing me,” Fox said, coming up beside her and crowding Josh as he glared daggers. “So hands off.”
Josh slowly took his hand away and backed up a step. “Didn’t you just get to town?”
Fox hooked his arm around her shoulders. “Been here a couple months on and off.” He kissed Melody on the side of the head. “Should I know him, too?”
“Josh wasn’t in our classes but went to the same school. You probably saw him around back then.”
Fox turned to Josh. “Sorry. Don’t remember. It’s been a long time.”
Josh glanced from her to Fox, his expression tense. “And now you’re back and she’s with you.”
Brian poured a beer and handed the glass to Fox. “Some guys have all the luck.”
Melody didn’t know how to respond to the compliment.
Fox held her tighter. “I didn’t want to let a good thing go.” He kissed her forehead.
She didn’t want to be let go, but she had a lot of tables to catch up on. But first… “I need a word.” She cocked her head for Fox to follow her away from Josh and Brian. When they were out of earshot, she put her hand on his shoulder, went up on tiptoe, and whispered in his ear, “Brian is the local drug dealer. It’s the worst-kept secret in town. You don’t want to be associated with him, especially when you’re trying to help so many at the center you just opened. Now laugh like I said something funny.”
Fox did as she asked and brushed his fingers along her cheek. “Always looking out for me, aren’t you?”
“Always. Now have one beer, kick his ass at pool, then get the hell away from him.” She brushed a quick kiss on his lips, then turned to get back to work. She felt Fox’s eyes on her and turned back to catch the grin on his face and desire in his eyes. She swung her hips just a bit more for his enjoyment.
She couldn’t wait to see him again later tonight at his place.